In this project, we will create keychains with personalized artwork using a laser cutter. We use a Trotec Speedy 360, which is an incredibly fast laser cutter, and allows us to make approximately 80 keychains in an hour. If you have a non-trotec laser, you might not be able to achieve the same throughput. This is an excellent project to expose students to laser cutting. Below you will find a list of equipment and material needed for this project.

For this project you will need:

Laser Cutter
Scanner (US)
CorelDraw (or other vector drawing program)
Markers
1/8" thick Acrylic/wood/other material
Keyrings (US)
White Cardstock (US)

Pictures of this project will be posted on 3/11/17

Step 1: Material Preparation

In order to minimize the workflow of this project, you will need to prepare your material before hand. Using a laser cutter, you will use the attached file, to cut blank keychains out of card stock. These keychain blanks will be the same exact size as the final keychain.

Using the keychain blanks, will allow you to scan the keychain in without having to resize it. Additionally, it gives your students a better understanding of how their artwork will look on their keychains.

Step 2: Decorate Keychains

Using the blank keychains, have your participants decorate their blanks.

Since these will be laser cut, color does not transfer. Remind your participants that color will not transfer (i.e. rainbow will look like an arch). Only the design will come out. It may be best to only put out one color of marker. For the best results, use a thicker marker like a Sharpie.

Also, remind participants that keychains are only one sided.

Step 3: Scan Keychain Blanks

Using the decorated keychain blanks from the previous step, use your scanner to import the decorated card stock keychains.

Most vector drawing programs have a way to directly import or acquire a scan. To acquire a scan in Corel draw, go to File > Acquire Image > Select WIA source and select your scanner. After selecting source, once again go to File > Acquire Image > Acquire. This will import whatever keychains are on your scanner bed.

Make sure that all keychains are oriented in the same position. This will be important for the next step.

Step 4: Process Artwork

Once you have acquired the scan of the card stock keychains, place the scan into your workspace in Corel Draw.

Crop the scan so it has only the artwork and the keychain holes.

Open or import the file attached to this step. Select the keychain and cut it out of the document (Ctrl + x or cmd + x). Paste it into the document that has the artwork for the personalized keychain. Use the scanned hole and the hole from the keychain outline for alignment. This will insure that the artwork that is on the card stock key chain ends in the same spot as the final product.

Repeat this process for all keychains that you have scanned in.

Step 5: Cut Out Personalized Keychains

At this point, you should have a keychain with personalized artwork with a outline of a digital keychain around it. Once you have completely aligned your keychain (Previous step), you are ready to cut it on the laser cutter.

Different laser cutters have different processes for processing artwork. Please consult the operator's manual for your laser cutter before operation.

Step 6: Attach Keyring

You should now have a laser cut keychain. Time to add your keyring. Split open the key ring and insert your new personalized key chain. Proudly display your new creation on your keys!